Central Coast Stories Show Notes – Published 26 June 2023Journalist/Host & Producer Kayleen Bell

Welcome back to Central Coast Stories!  I am a journalist and your host Kayleen Bell.  This is a podcast about stories about local people on the Central Coast. 

If you missed the previous episode it was a discussion with Dr Kelly Teagle about menopause and the wonderful work that she is doing in WellFemme, a national Telehealth menopause clinic that she founded which you can find here https://wellfemme.com.au/ Today’s episode is the 4th episode in a short series on health and Ep 10 publishing soon will be the last in this short health series.

*Disclaimer – Today’s episode is to provide information only about what was spoken about at the Women’s Health Forum held in Umina in 2023, and also to hear about some health care challenges and solutions on the Central Coast and more broadly around Australia. 

And if you need medical or mental health support please contact your local GP, hospital or mental health service.  You can also contact Lifeline on 131114 or the mental healthline on 1800 011 511 that is NSW only.  If you are listening to this podcast and you are impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence please contact 1800 RESPECT that is 1800 737 732 it operates 24 hours a day seven days a week for a confidential chat.  But, of course, in an emergency pleased dial 000.

Today’s episode is about the Women’s Health Forum that was held at Umina Beach in May, 2023, which was organised by Dr Gordon Reid’s office.  Dr Gordon Reid is a Central Coast local who grew up at Umina Beach.  He is the Member for Robertson and is a local emergency department doctor.  He makes a short appearance in today’s episode, but my full interview with him about the Women’s Health and our discussion in Episode 10 about health care on the Central Coast and in our hospitals will publish shortly (Tuesday 27 June).

My guests from the Women’s Health Forum that feature today (in order) are the Hon Emma McBride MP who is the Federal Member for Dobell and says she is ‘proud to call the Central Coast home.’  She grew up in Wyong and went to high school in Tuggerah.  You can see her full bio here https://emmamcbride.com.au/

In attendance there was Dr Gordon Reid MP, the Member for Robertson, the Hon. Emma McBride, the Federal member for Dobell and the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and the Assistant Minister for rural and regional health.  Also present was Dr Kelly Teagle, plus a local GP Dr Colette Hourigan, and last but not least the Hon. Ged Kearney, MP.  She is the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, and in today’s episode there will be a short discussion with Emma McBride (recorded after the event) then a small portion of audio recorded at the event of the Hon. Ged Kearney.  Following that discussion I will play Dr Kelly Teagle’s full presentation recorded live at the Women’s Health Forum.  Lastly I play a discussion with Vanessa Allen, who is the Community Engagement Officer for the Debbie Gaunt Foundation (DGF), and who attended the Women’s Health Forum on behalf of the DGF.  You can hear my discussion with the founder of the Debbie Gaunt Foundation and find out why it exists by listening to Episode 6 https://omny.fm/shows/central-coast-stories/ep-6-craig-gaunt-perimenopause-debbie-gaunt-founda?in_playlist=podcast

During my discussion with Vanessa I will also include a small portion of my discussion with Dr Gordon Reid, but as mentioned earlier you can hear the full interview with Dr Gordon Reid next in Central Coast Stories, Episode 10 publishing soon!

Now I must point out that the Women’s Health Forum at Umina was not all about menopause, about perimenopausal depression.  My Central Coast Stories podcast is also not all just about menopause or health.  I have interviewed artists, musicians, and I will have a lot of diversity in this podcast, but I felt that the WHF was important to cover and since Dr Kelly Teagle came all the way up from Canberra I wanted to interview her while she was on the Central Coast. 

Now to my discussion with Emma McBride, and I gave her full intro in the beginning of this episode, here is just a little bit more about Emma and then I will go straight to our discussion.  Emma is a registered pharmacist who has worked in the health sector for over 20 years both in Australia and abroad.  She was a specialist mental health pharmacist and the chief pharmacist at Wyong Hospital for nearly ten years, and prior to entering Parliament she was the Deputy Director of pharmacy for Central Coast Local Health District.  Emma’s background and experience as a health care professional led her to Parliament where she fights for better health services for all Australians.  Emma is a passionate advocate for quality health care close to home.  She understands the unique challenges facing rural and regional communities when it comes to accessing health care and she hopes to play a role in shaping public policy that promotes the health and wellbeing of every Australian regardless of where they live.

Links shared from Emma McBride’s office regarding the National Women’s Health Advisory Council as discussed during today’s episode:

The Terms of Reference

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-womens-health-advisory-council-terms-of-reference?language=en

National Women’s Health Strategy 2020–2030

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-womens-health-strategy-2020-2030

National Women’s Health Advisory Council Communiques

https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/national-womens-health-advisory-council-communiques?language=en

Royal Flying Doctor Service Report (RFDS)- https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/what-we-do/research/

The RFDS Best for the Bush report series identifies the issues that most urgently need attention from service providers, funders and policy makers, while also making recommendations for the RFDS to pursue together with governments, industry, rural and remote communities.

“Life expectancy and mortality rates of rural and remote residents compared to those in major cities. Females in very remote areas are likely to die 19 years earlier and males in very remote areas are likely to die 13.9 years earlier.”

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